...mes.Corals play an essential economic role for many coastal human communities, as they provide a habitat for fishers, physical protection from erosion, a source of marketable goods, and a destination for tourists. Unfortunately, coral reefs globally are shoing signs of ecological degradation from pollutant runoffs of chemicals and human seage, increasing sedimentation and eutrophication, damage from ships and divers, and increasing sea temperatures and ultraviolet radiation exposure. Coral reef ecosystem health is an important indicator of the global environmental condition, as they are highly sensitive to changes in ater chemistry and temperature.The largest reef in the orld measuring 2011 km in length and 72 km across at its idest point is the Great Barrier Reef. It stretches along the coast of Queensland in Australia. It is a true onderland of color and beauty. Of the many hundreds of varieties of coral groing on the reef, the Staghorn antler type is one of the most common.The Great Barrier ReefIs a natural barrier made ofthe bodies of living and deadcoral. It is normally just belo the surface of the ater. It ismade of a hite part containingthe bodies of zillions of polypshich have died hundreds yearsago and a colorful part that isthe living part of the coral reef.It is made up of living polyps.As the orlds largest coral reef ecosystem the Great Barrier Reef is home to approximately1.500 species of fish400 different types of corals4.000 species of mollusks500 species of seaeed215 species of birds16 species of sea snake6 species of sea turtlehales visit during the inter.The coral itself is food for many species. The butterfly fish eats individual coral polyps, hile theCron-of-thorns starfish eats entire coral colonies. Algaegroing on the coral is eatenby many major herbivores, hoscrape the algae from the coralbefore ingesting it.Some creatures sift through bottom sands for invertebrates. Stingrays crush the hard shells of mollusks to get to the soft bodies inside. Various species are scavengers, and feed on detritus. There are numerous predator- prey relationships and complex food ebs.Threats such as pollution from oil spills, land runoff and anchors from boats all cause damage to coral reefs. Increases in nutrients allo bacteria levels to rise, and the bacteria reduce oxygen levels through respiration.People damage the reefs by alking on them, dragging diving gear over them, breaking them and taking them as souvenirs and by over fishing.Natural outbreaks of some organism can also cause destruction in coral reef ecosystems. The spiky creature isthe Cron-of-thorns starfish, hich inverts its stomach outof its body to cover and digest the coral, leaving only the skeleton behind. It is not yet knon hether outbreaks ofthis creature are natural or related to human activities, although it has been suggested that over collecting of its natural predator the giant triton by humans has been a major influence. It is knon hoever that during feeding these creatures releases certain chemicals, hich tend to attract others. One old and no unused method of attempting to kill the starfish included cutting them up into small pieces, after hich they ere simply thron back into the ater. Many starfishes are able to regenerate from parts of themselves, so you can imagine that this method as not used for very long.ijCJ OJaQJamHsHCJ OJaQJamHsHCJOJaQJamHsHaNZIiviMaaj,LaiJQIEghija 1h à!ia8i8NormalCJsHaJmHsHtHAiDefault Paragraph Font.Ui.HyperlinkBphj aNZIiviM,LaiJQIEghil000000000000000000000000000000
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